Conveying apparatus.



J. T. COWLEY.

- CONVEYING APPARATUS. APPLIUATIOK rmsn IA! 1. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET '1.

PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907. J. T. COWLEY. CONVEYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION TILED MAY 1, 1905.

4 SHEETS-45KB 2.

PATENTBD SEPT. 17, 1907. J. T. COWLEY.

CONVEYING APPARATUS. APPLIGATIOI rmm KAY 1. 1905.

J. T. COWLEY.

CONVEYING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 1. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

PATENT Jansen-CO LEY, or osses, A SACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO LAMS'ON' oonsomnsrnn erons snnvron oonranv, QFNEWARK, NEWJERSEYJ.GORPORATIONORNEW JERSEY. v

' couvnv'm'e APPARATUS.

not aeasaal invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gon veying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. g.

My-invention relates to that class of traveling belt conveyer s for supporting carriers containing "letters -parcels or general merchandise. 1o

.'. invention consists of a series of revolving endless 1 sections ofa conveyer so constructed,'arranged,and

combined as to conveyor despatch' the said carriers from or-any of a series of sending stations located on any section of the conveyor and to side-track or '15 Witch the ing located thereon.

The apparatus herein described is especially adapted for the transmission oimail matter in postofiices where into or any of a series of receiv the matter is subject 'todelivjery'or exchange between each or any receiving or sending station along .the line ofthe conveyer.

.verse direction," and I provide an angle ofinterse'ction 2 5 Tllt pper of the endless belts like-directionally moving and the lower portions move in the recruises endless with a device iordriving' the the b elts'initherequired direction.

My invention 901 .5180 in 'P v s ea for obnv'eyingor guiding the carriers the angles from one section-to another. This is accomplished by supplying the angles with curved guide on either side thefra me' work of the sections; and g a serieeoi guide rolls'rotating said guide rails-in the direction ottravel of theb'elt an to to" the rolls "oi intermediate gears and We the directioli' of rotation.

These rolls may beoi difierent shape -eitl er conical or" Thereis also prbvided tor receiving station, a side for diverting the carriers to'their designated stationm' This is accomplished by means' of 'a switchr'ail'at each station 1 located in erposition the adjustable indeic clutch located on the front of the carrier which clutch can? be adjusted ior my station 'Actuating rolls are also providedfat each receiving station to facilitate supporting and. conveying, the carriers from the so? belts. To prevent of the contents of the carrier, there is provideda-sprin'g-a'c'tuated friction slide which 'is longitudinally adjustable on ways in-the carrier.-

7 Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed May 1, 1905. Serial 80.268379.

' I will be hereinaiter described and micnlsnr pointed .out the claims. I I

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a con- Patented'SeptL17 Q-IQQY.

struction embodying my invention, Figure 1 is a'plan view of a receiving station on the upper section of the conveyor. 2 is an elevation of Fig. 1 with the re-' ceiving shelf re moved. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a receiving stationon the'lower section of the conveyer, and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a sectional view'on the line X X Fig. 1. Fig.' 6 is a plan view of'acorner. 7 isa sectional view on the line Y,Y Fig. 6. 8isan end viewof Fig. 7; 9 is a side elevation of the carrier; Fig. 10 is a plan view oi a carrier. 11 is a front view of a carrier. Fig. 12 is a-perspective view of'an adjustable slide for holding the articles in the carrier. 13 is a modificationoi the corner shownin Fig. 6. Fig. 14 is an end View of the parts shown in Fig. 13 showing the gearing for likedirectionally actuating the rolls. 15 is a sectional view on the line X 13; Fig. '16 shows a modifi-v cation oi the carrier illustrated inplan view in'Fig. 10.

17 is a modification of the carriershown in side elevation in Fig. 9.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts'throughout the several views.

The: cross bar A is rigidly mounted on the standard A (Fig. 5 and rigidly fixed thereto at each end are the vertical supports AH The horizontal crossbar A rigidly connects-the top of the vertical supports A. The

vertical sides or guide rails A. A oi the lower section and A A of the upper section are fastened to'the vertical supports'A at each side. The rollers B journaledi in the guide rails A A -carry the lower section of the endless belt 0. The rollers Bf journaled in the guide rows 1 are located at the receiving stations and are adapted to actuate the carrier from the belt to the receiving shelf L. The divertingorvcurved switch rails E E of the upper section (Fig.1) and D of the lower section 3) are drop-fastened iromthe horiz'ontal cross bars A A respectively by means ofthe angle collar braces D iastened to the outer peripheryof the curved switch rails E E and D The-receiving shelf D of the lower section (Figs. 3and 4) is fastnedto the open section of the vertical side orguide rail A and opento communication with the belt G. The roll or actuating pulley I)v and the idle rolls D D are journaled in the side rails of said shelf D. The actuating or working roll D is driven by'the roll B, which roll is driven by the belt 0. The cross bar D mounted on thestandardA at one end and carrying the vertical.

standard D mounted thereon at the other end and se;

endless belt G. --'The uprights C C are mounted cured by'set screws Q supports the outer end of the shelf D. The opening '1 in the guide rail A (Fig.4)

and the opening T in the guide rail A are for the purpose of; allowing the placing of the carriers on the belt for transmission. The corner plate (Fig. 6) carries the uprights Gr G forming bearings for the shaft' G? of the drum G" which drives the on the corner 'plate C at right angles to the uprights G G and carry the shaft (J -0i the drum C which drum drives the endless belt C. Beveled gears 'G? and C are fixed to the shafts G and C respectively. The shaft Cdiagonally mounted in the uprights C C intermediate the beveled gears G G carries the gear G. whichintermeshes and drives said gears C and Gr causing the belts C and G to travelilike-directionally at equal speed rates. The curved guide rails PP form thejcorner guidesifor theupper sections and the curved 3 0 connectedby a reverse belt N to a similar grooved pulguide rails P P formthe corner guides for the lowersection. The guide roll N (Fig. 7) is journaled in the corner guide rails P? P and is connected to the driving shaft. 0 by the universal joints P P? causing said roll N" to rotate inthe direction indicated by the arrow. The grooved pulley N is fixed totheshaftof the 1011 N and ley' N mounted on the shaft of the roll N, causing-said roll N to rotate in the reverse direction in hearings in "the actiiated conical rolls 'n are mounted' at equal spaced intervals in thebearings nof the guide rails 40 the'guides-PP of the upper section'. The belt M driving the pulley M supplies suitable power for actuating the said'device. A modification of said corner-drive mechanism is shown in Figs. 13,- 14 and 15, in which p p which connect the endless sections '0 and of the conveyer. The gears n mounted on the inner ends of the rolls 1:. are connected by the intermediate gears n Thebevel gearn. fixed on the shaft 11.? of the center roll intermeshes with and is driven by the bevel gear t? on the shafts. The bevel gear 0 mounted on the shaft v c and the bevel gear 'g inoun'ted on; the shaft 9 inter mesh withand drive the intermediate. gear g? of the. I shaft blthereby imparting a like-directional motion to the rolls 12*, as indicated by'arrows'; Suitable bolts q fasten allrigid parts of mechanism.

In Fig. 9 H represents a carrier for the'articles to be transported. A friction slide (Fig. 12) for holding said articles in position consistsof the vertical pressure plate K fastened to the frame K, saidframe' K being longitudinally adjustable on the ways H on the bottom-oi said 'carrier'. The thumb lever 1K pivoted to the frame -K by the pin'K and actuated by the spring K holds the slide firmly in any desired position. -A'

notched face-plate H is fixed to the front oi the carrier H'(see Fig. 10) and "the spindle H is fixed at each end ofthe extensions oreach frame. The adjustable clutch H is designed to slide at will on the spindle H and to engage anyone of the'notches in saidface plate H The. spring actuated pin H pressing against the face of the carrier, holds the clutch in the desired n otch, each by said clutch. e

A modification of the adjustable switching mechan seeps? notch on said. face plate H representing a station which isso indicated by a numeral'thereon. The vertical rolls H mounted in bea'ringson each side of the .iace plate H aredesigned to guide the carrier freely around the curve. Thelip-H located on top of the clutch H engages a switch rail at the station designated ism is shown, in Figs. 16 and 17. A series of clutches each representing a station are adj ustably mounted on position holding the said parcels or letters firmly in place. Thethumb is then removed'and the lever K released locking the slide K- in position. The adjustable clutch H on the face plate H of the carrier H is pressed downward until released from the notches and then. moved to either side until opposite the notch bearing the number of the desired station. The pressure isthe'n releasediand the clutch locks into position. If the station designated is situated to the left of the operator, the carrier is then placed .through the .opening T of the upper section and upon the belt Gwhich.

is traveling in that direction. If the station should be to the right, the carrier is put through the opening T'.

which-is traveling in the reverse direction. Ifthe .of the lower sectionand upon that portion of the belt A carrieris required to turn a corner as shown in Fig; 6',

the guide rolls H engage the outer curvedguide'rail and the carrier is divertedon' to the supporting or idle rolls 0. The belt still impels the carrier over the said rolls 0 until it'passes onto the actuating roll N which I now drives the carrier completely round the corner "and upon the bel t'of the next endless section. If the receiving shelf D 3) should be the section indicated by; the tongue of the index clutch H on the car- D" thence upon the actuating roll]) over the supporting roll 1) and on to the shelf D. 1f the carrier is consigned to either of the stations on shelf L, .the index clutch is set to engage either oi the switch rails E or E, and the carrier diverted by either of said rails is moved out upon the shelf L by the actuatingrolls B .or B Thecontents 0f the carrier may then be removed and the carrierreturned to the sender by being placed on'the belt travelingin that direction.

N Having. thus described the nature of my invention 7 and set forth a construction'embodying the same, what I claim as new and desire to secure by. Letters Patent of the. United States is: V

i 1. In a conve'yer, a horizontal frame, meanssupporting said frame, troughing rolls or idlers journaled within said frame, drums mounted at each end of sai'rl 'fra'iiie'; an "end-" less belt carried by said drums and supported' 'by "and traveling on said rolls and adapted to support and convey carriers thereon, and graduated stationary, means for switching: carriers lateraily-from-said belt.

2. In a convey'er, a horizontal frame, means supporting said frame, 'troughing rolls or 'idiers journaled within said rier H the lip H would engage the switch rail D (liv I 'verting thecarrierH on to the idle or supporting roll I soaps frame, drums mounted on each end of said frame, an endless belt carried by said drums and supported by and traveling on said rolls andadapted to support and convey carriers thercon.'graduated stationary means for switching said carriers laterally, and a-shelt or receiving station adapted to receive said carriers.

3.v In a conveyer, a horizontal frame, means supporting ',.said frame, troughing rolls or idiers journaled within said frame, drumsvmounted on each end of said frame, an

frame, drums mounted on each end of said frame, an endless belt carried by said drums and supported 'byand traveling on said rolls and adapted to support and convey carriers. thereon, means for switching said carriers later-' ally from said belt, a shelf or receiving station adapted to receive said carriers, and means tor'actuating-said carriers from said belt to said shelf or receiving stati 0n'-- 'and operated by the belt-driving mechanism.

5. In a conveyor, as herein described, the combination of a plurality of endie'ss'belt-co'nveyer sections mounted on drums insaid sections andhdapted to supportand' convey carriers thereon, troughingrolis supporting said belts, switch rails adapted to engage a clutch -or guide on said carriers and divert said carriers from the belts, a

receiving station adapted to receive said carriers, and guiding rolls connected with .said troughing rolls and driven by said belts for conveying said carrierstrom said belts to saidreceiving station.

'6. In a conveyer, a horizontal frame, means supporting said trame, troughing rolls or idlers journaied within said frame, drums mounted on each end of. said frame, an endless beltcarried by said drums and supported by and journaled on said rolls and adapted to support and convey carriers 'thereon,' means for switching said carriers laterally from the upper side of said belt, a shelf .or re ceiving station adapted to receive said carriers, means for actuating said carriers from said-belt to said shelf or receiving station, and means driven by said beit'tor actuating said carriers from the lower side or said belt toareceiving station. v I 1 7. In a conveyer, a plurality of endless belt sections adapted to support and'conve'y carriers thereon, means for supporting said belt sections, stationary switching guides at the stations for diverting said carriers from said belts to said stations, and switching mechanism on'said carriers adapted to be adjusted thereon to engage with the divert ing switching guides at any desired station.

8. In a conveyer, an endless belt conveyer adapted to support and convey carriers thereon, means for support ingsaid -belt conveyer, a stationary guide for diverting said carriers from said belt to a receiving station, and

switching mechanism on'said carrier for engaging said guide.

9. In a conveyer, an endless belt conveyor adapted to support and convey carriers thereon, means for supporting said belt conveyer, a" stationary guide for diverting said carriers from said belt to a receiving station, and adjustable switching mechanism on said carrier.

In testimony'whereot llhave signed 'my name to this) specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses,- this 29th dayof April A. D. 1905.

1 JAMES-'1; COWLEY.

Witnesses:

L. G. Baarnn'rai A/L, Masses. 

